16:1 - Education, Teaching, & Learning

Our conversation this week is with Vivian Van Gelder, Director of Policy & Research at the Southeast Seattle Education Coalition, a nonprofit that unites more than 50 community organizations, schools, parents, and caregivers behind advocacy for equitable education policy. Vivian is the lead author of a report called Left to Chance: Student Outcomes in Seattle Public Schools, A forensic history. It’s a sweeping and detailed analysis of one public school district’s leadership and policy choices over more than three decades and how those choices have shaped the educational experience of tens of thousands of students attending more than 100 schools.In her report, Vivian uncovers the story of how Seattle Public Schools embraced an experiment in local control, allowing parents and students to “vote with their feet” for support of their local schools. In theory, competition drives innovation; in practice, the story was more complicated, and it produced a fractured district with a hundred mini-systems that were unevenly funded, under-supported, and almost invisible to central leadership.We think there’s a lot to be learned from this report and from researchers like Vivian who are doing the hard work of holding intractable social problems up to the light in a way that can spark progress and ignite momentum behind reform. We spend significant time discussing Seattle Public Schools in this episode, but Katie and I were struck by just how familiar some of these tensions are to what we’ve heard from educators in Appalachian Ohio, or to friends in suburban Maryland and rural Alaska and the Deep South. Vivian’s work addresses universal questions of values and organizational leadership in public schools, and we encourage you to read it (we will link to it in our show notes).Thanks for listening to 16:1, and don’t forget to sign up for our email newsletter for the latest news, resources, workshop offerings, and episode announcements from Moonbeam Multimedia. For a full list of episode sources and resources, visit our website at sixteentoone.com/archives.

American education is facing a tumultuous battle for free speech amid political pressures. Columbia University is shifting away from academic freedom, while Harvard stands firm against federal overreach. The challenges extend to K-12 schools, with interventions in places like LA. Meanwhile, Ohio debates the role of cell phones in education and mental health, showcasing deeper issues around technology use. The hosts also weave in lighter topics, celebrating art and theater, adding a creative flair to the serious discourse.

Emily Chase Coleman, co-founder and CEO of HAI Analytics, shares her insights on reshaping higher education with over 20 years of leadership experience and a PhD from Cornell. The conversation critiques traditional admissions practices, urging a shift towards holistic evaluations that embrace diverse student stories. Coleman discusses how data analytics and AI can redefine success measures beyond test scores and grades. She emphasizes the importance of cultural fit and meaningful educational experiences, addressing current enrollment challenges in a post-COVID world.

This week's discussion dives into massive staffing cuts at the U.S. Department of Education, raising concerns over civil rights protections. It explores the recent arrests of Palestinian student activists at Columbia, igniting a debate on academic freedom. The podcast also highlights how European universities are becoming refuges for scholars facing challenges in the U.S. Finally, there's an insightful look into the evolving science of reading and its impact on literacy instruction across the nation.

This episode features the story of how a group of more than 700 pioneering women in the UK smashed through barriers to higher education and claimed degrees from Trinity College Dublin. Denied their degrees at Oxford and Cambridge because of their gender despite successfully completing their exams, the “Steamboat ladies” made use of an early 1900s loophole to earn official recognition by making a trip across the Irish Sea. The episode also explores the broader suffrage movement at the turn of the century and profiles figures like Eleanor Rathbone and Margaret Hills, whose efforts paved the way for academic and professional equity for women attending universities in the UK and around the world.For a full list of episode sources and resources, visit our website at sixteentoone.com/archives.

This week’s news headline roundup covers the following stories:Proposed Ohio Senate Bill 1 higher education legislation targets DEI initiatives, faculty rights, and funding, sparking fierce debates across campuses.New research warns that leaning on generative artificial intelligence tools might be eroding our cognitive muscles, raising questions about AI tools in educational contexts.A NY Climate Change Education Bill would embed age-appropriate climate change lessons in K-12 curricula.Partially in response to recent data deletions, Harvard Law School’s Library Innovation Lab steps in to preserve over 300,000 federal public datasets for future research.For a full list of episode sources and resources, visit our website at sixteentoone.com/archives.

Explore the life and work of Jerome Bruner, a pioneering psychologist, multidisciplinarian, and educator who transformed the study of learning. Discover how Bruner’s early experiences, including his corrective surgery for cataracts and his upbringing in New York City, influenced his path in education and cognitive psychology.Learn about Bruner’s role in moving psychology beyond rigid behaviorist frameworks, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of mental processes in learning. Explore Bruner’s belief that learners construct their own understanding through active discovery, and how this philosophy supports student-centered teaching methods.Hear about practical implications of scaffolding and spiral curricula in the classroom.Hear how Bruner’s work on narrative psychology informs our understanding of learning as a process of constructing and sharing stories.For a full list of episode sources and resources, visit our website at sixteentoone.com/archives.

This week in education news headlines, we cover:Australia has banned teenagers under 16 from using social media apps, with a one-year grace period for platforms to implement age verification measures.Disgraced college admissions advisor Rick Singer tries to stage a comeback with a new consulting venture.To boost incoming class sizes in a difficult economy, institutions like the University of Providence adopt direct admissions to streamline enrollment and promote diversity.A major data breach at K–12 software provider PowerSchool has affected numerous districts, emphasizing the growing need for robust cybersecurity and transparent safety protocols in schools.Higher education faces shifts as Boston University suspends humanities PhD admissions due to budget pressures, while Purdue University introduces the Cornerstone Integrated Liberal Arts program to revitalize cross-disciplinary learning.For a full list of show sources & additional resources, visit sixteentoone.com/archives.

Jeremy C. Young, Director of state and higher education policy at PEN America, brings an insightful perspective on educational censorship. He discusses the latest tactics lawmakers use to impose censorship and the challenges universities face in maintaining academic freedom. Young highlights the activism of high school students against misinformation and the critical role of liberal arts education. The conversation also touches on the international climate of educational freedom and the historical impact of political charisma on leadership dynamics.

In our final episode of 2024, the 16:1 hosts share reflections and takeaways from the 2024 NCTE National Conference held in Boston, Massachusetts. The event was inspiring and energizing, featuring notable figures such as Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, comedienne Kate McKinnon, social justice advocate Bryan Stevenson, and beloved authors such as Jo Knowles. Though exhausting, the conference left us re-energized and brimming with ideas! Join us as we cover:Nationwide initiatives to protect intellectual and academic freedom, combat book bans and censorship, and prioritize student mental health.Classroom-focused discussions on the ethical and practical applications of artificial intelligence in education.Innovative uses of games, podcasts, and other “new” media to create compelling and accessible learning experiences.Solutions journalism as a tool to de-escalate political discourse and empower student journalists.Thank you for listening to 16:1. Your ratings and reviews help us reach teachers and learners around the world, so please consider leaving a note for us in your favorite podcasting app. If there’s a story from your educational community that you would like us to cover in 2025, please write to hello@sixteentoone.com to get in touch with our editorial team. See you in the new year!Sources & Resources:The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science | Anderson's Bookshop NapervilleBryan Stevenson | Equal Justice InitiativeThe Supreme Court: Justice Ketanji Brown JacksonGreat Molasses Flood - WikipediaHow to Fight Book Bans: Proactive Tips for Educators - PEN AmericaK. A. Keener Headquarters (NCTE Presenter on Narrative & Gaming)News Literacy ProjectSolutions Journalism NetworkUSS Constitution Museum